$75.48 Million for ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ in First Week

Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman rounded out its first week in theatres with a first place take of $4.07 million on Thursday. The pricey adaptation starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron was down 4 percent from Wednesday. Snow White and the Huntsman was easily the week's top film with a seven-day start of $75.48 million. The film exceeded pre-release expectations this week and is currently running 2 percent stronger than the $73.89 million seven-day start of last year's X-Men: First Class. Snow White and the Huntsman (along with most other wide releases in the marketplace) is likely to take a significant hit this weekend from the one-two punch of Fox's Prometheus and Paramount's Madagascar 3.

Speaking of Prometheus, the anticipated Ridley Scott directed 3D sci-fi film was off to a healthy midnight start of $3.56 million. That figure, which will be counted towards Friday's opening day performance, was a bit stronger than the $3.37 million midnight start of X-Men: First Class last June. X-Men: First Class went on to gross $55.10 million during its opening weekend. Check back throughout the weekend for further updates on Prometheus as well as Madagascar 3.

Turning back to Thursday, Sony's Men in Black 3 held steady in second place with $2.56 million. The expensive 3D sequel starring Will Smith was up 2 percent over Wednesday and down 38 percent from last Thursday. In general, midweek business for holdovers such as Men in Black 3 stabilized this week thanks in part to summer vacation now beginning for some schools. Men in Black 3 finished in second for the week with $39.00 million. That was down 53 percent from the film's opening week performance and places the film's two-week total at $122.01 million. Men in Black 3 continues to run 8 percent stronger than 2009's Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Marvel's The Avengers grossed $1.97 million to remain in third. Disney's blockbuster superhero film was up 6 percent over Wednesday and down just 29 percent from last Wednesday. The Avengers placed in third for the week with $28.59 million. That was down 49 percent from last week and places the film's five-week total at a mighty $561.05 million. The Avengers is currently $38.95 million away from reaching the $600 million domestic milestone.